"Woman Fainted in Car Rescued and 119 Called, Then Accused of Sexual Harassment"

Citizen Saves Woman Who Lost Consciousness and Collapsed
"Husband Demands 1 Million Won Settlement...
Says He Will Report Sexual Harassment If Not Paid"

A man who broke the rear window of a car to rescue a woman who had fainted inside is reportedly being demanded 1 million won in compensation by the woman’s husband.

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On the 16th, a post titled "I’m really wronged and angry, so I’m writing to vent" was uploaded on an online community. The author, Mr. A, said, "On the 14th, while heading to my company after leaving some documents there, I saw a car stopped in the middle of the road," adding, "The hazard lights were not on, so I approached cautiously and saw a woman who looked to be in her late 30s to early 40s foaming at the mouth and unconscious."

Mr. A explained the situation, saying, "I tried to open the car door, but of course, it was locked. In the end, I broke the rear door window with an emergency hammer I had in my car to rescue the woman," and added, "Several nearby drivers and pedestrians clearly witnessed this." He continued, "I did not perform CPR or any physical manipulation. I felt uneasy, so I did not touch her at all," and said, "After the 119 paramedics arrived, I gave them my number when they asked, then went back to the company to get the documents."

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The absurd part is that the woman’s husband is demanding a settlement from Mr. A for "touching his wife’s body." Mr. A said, "The husband called me the very next day. He questioned me about the compensation for the broken rear window and whether I touched his wife when pulling her out, threatening to report me for sexual harassment," and added, "I naturally expected a 'thank you' over the phone, but when he said he would report me, I was so shocked I was speechless."

In response to the husband’s accusations, Mr. A explained, "It’s true that I put my arm under her armpit to pull her out of the car," but clarified, "The situation was urgent, so it was unavoidable. After bringing her onto the sidewalk, I did not have any physical contact such as CPR." However, the husband is demanding 300,000 won for the rear door glass and an additional 700,000 won in compensation because the broken glass caused a cut on his wife’s arm. Although Mr. A saved an unconscious woman, he now faces a total compensation demand of 1 million won.

Mr. A said, "The husband is threatening to report me for sexual harassment if I don’t pay the compensation," and asked, "I feel really wronged. Anyone who saw the rescue knows I did not touch her except when pulling her out of the car, and even that was done under urgent rescue circumstances. Do I really have to pay compensation?" He added, "I swear to heaven I did not touch her with any sexual intent. But the husband says, 'The woman’s voice is evidence,' and tells me to be grateful for settling at 1 million won because he’s being kind," and appealed, "I don’t mind paying 1 million won, but I don’t want to admit guilt."

Mr. A also said, "I will never help others again in my life. Especially women, I won’t help anyone except my own mother no matter what happens," and added, "I thought I did a good deed and felt proud, but to be met with a wrongful accusation and a 1 million won compensation demand is very hard. I know there are all kinds of people in the world, but I feel like I got caught up in something unfair."

Netizens who read the story responded with comments such as, "That husband doesn’t seem human," "It looks like a deliberate self-harm extortion scheme," "Why are there so many trash people demanding money after someone saves a life?" "Just report him," "How can someone treat a person who helped in good faith like that?" "It’s ridiculous after saving a life," "Is he upset because she was saved?" and "You did a good deed, it’s so unfortunate."

Meanwhile, according to Article 5-2 of the Emergency Medical Service Act (Exemption from Liability for Good Faith Emergency Medical Care), if a person provides emergency medical care or first aid to a patient in a life-threatening emergency without intentional or gross negligence, that person is exempt from civil liability and criminal liability for injury.